Metallic building structure



H. R. RASCH ET AL METALLIC BUILDING STRUCTURE Feb. 6, 1962 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 9, 1959 INVENTORS HERMAN R. RASCH ROBERT J.CUMMINS M s- W ATTORNEYS Feb. 6, 1962 H. R. RASCH ET AL METALLICBUILDING STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 9, 1959 INVENTORS HERMANR. RASCH ROBERT J. CUMMINS BY 17W ATTORNEYS Feb. 6, 1962 Filed March 9,1959 H. R. RASCH ET AL METALLIC BUILDING STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTORS HERMAN R. RASCH ROBERT J. CUMMINS TTORNE YS are The presentinvention relates to metallic building structure, and more particularlyto buildings of the roof truss and column type. The invention hasutility in connection with the provision of a wide variety of buildingconstructions that can be relatively quickly assembled in the field fromshop-assembled sections, and has particular utility in connection withbuilding constructions de signed to bear substantial lateral loadsimposed from within, such as grain storage buildings and the like.

Metallic buildings of the roof truss and column type ordinarily includea plurality of vertical columns disposed in pairs on opposite sides ofthe building. Each pair of opposed columns carries at the upper ends ofthe columns comprising the pair a roof truss which extends across thetop of the building structure from side to side thereof. The rooftrusses support the weight of the roof; and to achieve suitable stressdistribution and strength they are often comprised of a rigid top memberor top chord and a rigid bottom chord, the chords being verticallyspaced apart and interconnected by generally upright web members. Theroof trusses are disposed in vertical planes and are parallel to eachother and spaced from each other lengthwise of the building. Thus, thetop chords of the roof trusses serve in effect as rafter beams, thebottom chords and web members serving in effect to strengthen the raftermeans.

Metallic buildings of this type also commonly include members known aspurlins which are supported by the top chords and extend lengthwise ofthe building parallel to each other and perpendicular to the top chords.These purlins, in turn, supporting the roof proper, which is ordinarilyin the form of metal roofing sheets.

In addition to the roof sheeting, metallic side wall sheeting isprovided. It is common practice to secure a plurality of horizontallydisposed vertically spaced members known as girts to the columns, and tosecure the side wall sheeting in vertical relationship on the side ofthe girts. Eave structure is also provided which in effect ties togetherthe side walls and the roof and extends along each side of the buildingat the top thereof. The structure is completed by suitable end walls.

t is an object of the present invention to provide improved metallicbuilding structure in which the forces imposed on the structure aredistributed in such a way that they tend to balance each other, so thatthe strength, weight and cost of the structure may be substantiallyreduced.

Another object of the invention is the provision of metallic buildingstructure of the roof truss and column type so constructed that thereaction forces imposed on the top chords of the roof trusses by thecolumns are largely relieved.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision ofmetallic building structure having roof purlins so mounted and arrangedrelative to the top chord and the web members of the roof truss as todistribute and relieve stresses that would otherwise be concentrated inthe top chord.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of metallicbuilding structure having an improved eave assembly.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide metallicbuilding structure that is relatively simple and inexpensive tomanufacture, easy to erect, and rugged and durable in use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from a consideration of the following description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective interior view of metallic building structureaccording to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view of one side of metallicbuilding structure according to the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of an cave assembly of thepresent invention;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of a roof truss in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIGURE 5 is a cross section taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a cross section taken on the line of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a ridgeassembly according to the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, there is shown metallicbuilding structure comprising a plurality of vertical main columns 1disposed in opposed pairs on opposite sides of the building structure,the columns l on each side of the building structure being in alignmentlongitudinally of the structure and being supported at their bases bythe usual flooring or footings. Each column 1 comprises a vertical web 3and vertical inner and outer flanges 5 and 7, respectively.

Each pair of opposed main columns 1 carries at the upper ends of thecolumns comprising the pair a root truss 9 which extends across the topof the building structure. Each truss 9 comprises a peaked top chord 11made up of a pair of straight hat sections 13 disposed at an obtuseangle to each other. Each hat section 13 is inclined at an acute angleto the horizontal corresponding to the pitch of the roof, and eachcomprises an upper web 15 lying in a plane disposed at that pitch angle.

From opposite edges of web 15 depend a pair ofvertical flanges 17 whichterminate downwardly in oppositely outwardly extending flanges 19parallel to web 15. Flanges 17 thus comprise a pair of spaced parallelvertical plates secured together in unitary assembly by web 15. At leastthe outer faces of these vertical plates are also vertical. A splicemember 21 secures sections 13 together in rigid unitary assembly attheir adjacent ends at the ridge of the building structure. Splicemember 21 is a short hat section of the same general cross-sectionalconfiguration as hat sections 13 except that its depending flanges arespaced farther apart so as to receive between them the ends of flanges17 in bolted relationship.

Each truss 9 also includes a straight horizontal bottom chord 2.3comprised of a plurality of channels 25. In the illustrated embodiment,bottom chord 23 is comprised of two sections each made up of a pair ofchannels back to back but spaced apart. Each channel 25 has a verticalweb 27 and a pair of horizontal flanges 29 extending away from thelongitudinal coextensive channel 25 of the pair. The two sections ofbottom chord 23 are secured rigidly together in endwise alignmentby'means of splice plates 31 which interconnect the webs 27 oflongitudinally aligned channels 25.

A plurality of web members 33 extend between and interconnect top andbottom chords 11 and 23. Each web member 33 is a channel shape havingparallel flanges 35. The distance between the outer surfaces of flanges35 is about the same as the distances between the inner or confrontingsurfaces of flanges 17 and webs 27. The ends of web members 33 aredisposed between flanges 17 and webs 27 and each flange 35 is secured toits adjacent a flange 17 by a single field bolt 37 and to its adjacentweb 27 by a further single field bolt 37. The lower ends of the severalweb members 33 at opposite ends of each truss 9 are also secured to agusset plate 39 in view or" the stress concentrations at these points.In this way, the great majority of the web members 33 are directlyflange-connected to the top and bottom chords by simple single boltconnections. Accordingly, there is no need to provide composite webmembers which would have to be laced together, nor is there any need forswedging or flattening the web member flanges so that the connectorscould pass through them as through one thick member.

Each roof truss 9 is secured at its ends to a pair of opposed maincolumns ll adjacent the tops of those columns. One connection at eachend of the truss is made below the top of the column atthe end of bottomchord 23, the end of the bottom chord being secured to inner flange ofthe associated column 1 by means of conventional field bolts and anglesor the like. This connection bears no substantial part of the weight ofthe as sembly but resists primarily only stresses imposed lengthwise ofthe bottom chord and perpendicular to the column. Hence, this connectionneed comprise only the simplest form of buttwise tie to the bottomchord.

The other connection between each end of the roof truss and the maincolumns is a unique connection comprising an important feature of thepresent invention. As is best seen in FIGURES 2 and 4, there is provideda column cap plate 41 having two portions related to each other at anobtuse angle. The top of each column 1 is cut oil on a bias so as topresent uppermost surfaces inclined downwardly outwardly at the rootpitch, and the longer of the two portions or plate 41 is secured to thetop of the column as by welding or the like so that both ends of plate41 overhang the column. Thus, when secured to column 1, the inner end 43of plate 4-1 extends from the top of the column downwardly and inwardlyat about the same angle as the adjacent web member 33 of roof truss 9,while the other or outer end 45 of cap plate 41 extends from the top ofthe column downwardly outwardly at the roof pitch. Inner end 43 isbolt-connected to the upper outer end of the extreme end web member 33of the truss, while the lower outer end of top chord ll isbolt-connected through flanges 19 to a portion of cap plate 41 betweenends 43 and 45 thereof. Top chord l1 terminates short of end 45 of capplate 41. in actual practice, column l and cap plate 41 will beshop-assembled, while cap plate 41 and truss 9 will be fieldassembled.Truss 9 and cap plate 41 are shown in assembly in FIGURE 4 separate fromthe columns simply for purposes of better illustrating cap plate 41.

There is thus provided a construction characterized by an end web memberof the roof truss extending upwardly and outwardly between the top andbottom chords thereof, the bottom chord being secured at its ends to thecolumn below the top of the column so that the point of securement ofthe end web member to the bottom chord is spaced a substantial distanceinwardly of the point of securement of the bottom chord to the column.At the same time, the upper outer end of the end web member is connectedto the top of the column through a cap men ber which bears on the top ofthe column, while the top chord merely rests on this cap member.

Thus, the load carried through the end web member is carried to column 1through cap plate 41 and generates no shearing force in top chord 11. Atthe column connection, the top chord is thus required to resist axialloads only and not shear loads.

The roof itself is supported by a plurality of roof purlius 47 whichextend longitudinally of the building structure at the top thereof andare spaced apart and parallel to each other. Purlins 47 have the formillustrated in application Serial No. 644,087, filed March 5, 1957.Instead of being disposed on top of top chord ll, however, purlins 47extend between hat sections 33 and have a principal portion of theirvertical extents coincident with the vertical extents of hat sections13. Thus, each purlins 4-7 has a web 49 disposed in a planeperpendicular to the planes of web 15 and flanges 17 of the associatedhat section 13, each web 59 extending upwardly from the lower flanges 1?of the hat sections to an upper edge a substantial distance above web 15of the hat sections. Thus, webs 49 are substantially taller than flanges17. Webs 49 terminate upwardly in upper flanges 5i which are spacedabove but do not overlie webs 15, and terminate downwardly in oppositelydirected lower flanges 53 which rest on lower flanges 19 of the hatsections of the upper chord of the roof truss. Flanges 51 and 53 areparallel to each other and perpendicular to webs 49.

The ends of purlins 47 are picked up by brackets comprising angles 55having flanges 57 and 59 at right angles to each other. Flanges 57 aresecured by field bolts 37 to the outer vertical faces of flanges 17, theends of webs 4? of purlins 47 being bolt-connected to flanges 59.Conventional roofing sheets 61 are bolt-connected to upper flanges 51 ofpurlins 47 and are thereby maintained parallel to but spaced above thetop chords of the roof trusses. A ridge cap 63% extends lengthwise ofthe top of the building structure and overlies the gap between theroofing sheets on each side of the building. Ridge cap 63 is bolted tothe rooting sheets on each side and may have the usual sealing stripbetween the edges of the ridge cap and the upper ends of the roofingsheets.

Apart from the usual advantages of a Z-shapecl purlin as shown at 47,the use of such a purlin in the particular environment and location ofthe present invention is attended by further advantages. In the firstplace, the component of the vertical load of the roof normal to the topchord is transmitted through angles 55 directly to web members 33, andthe top chord is thus required to resist axial loads only. In the secondplace, the forces which act longitudinally through purlins d7 are notapplied to the web 155 of the hat section edgewise thereof, as would bethe case if the purlins were mounted on web 15, but instead aredistributed broadside over vertical flanges 17. The result is that thehat section presents to the end of the Z-shapcd purlin 47 a structuralmember which itself is efiectively Z-sl1aped and is comprised of web 15and the adjacent flanges 17 and 19.

Also, adjacent the ridge cap, the purlin attachment of the presentinvention provides a uniquely compact assembly having great strengthcharacteristics. Specifically, it will be noted from FIGURE 4 that theflanges 59 of angles 55' are all disposed on the outer side of theangles except the two immediately adjacent the ridge, of which theflanges 59 are disposed adjacent each other. it will also be noted fromFiGURE 7 that the two angles 55 immediately adjacent the ridge arespaced above the adjacent flanges 19. The purpose of this spaced anglearrangement adjacent the ridge is to permit positioning of purlins :7 asclose as possible to the ridge to support the uppermost ends of theroofing sheets. This is accomplished by positioning flanges 59 on theridge side of the associated brackets and the accommodation of the lowerfianges of purlins 47 is in turn effected by disposing them under angleflanges 59', between flanges 59 and flanges 19. By this construction,the upper ends of the roofing sheets are firmly supported abovesplicemember 21 with both these upper ends and the splice member disposedbeneath the ridge cap.

A still further advantage of the purlin arrangement of the presentinvention is that it permits connection of the upper ends of a number ofweb members 33 to the top chord by the same elements which secure angles55 to the top chords. This, in turn, assures that a large portion of theweight of the roof will be transmitted through purlins 47 and angles 55and the common field bolts 37 directly through web members to the lowerchord of the truss without further stressing the top chord of the truss.Thus, as seen in FIGURE 6, the same field bolt 37 which se ares aportion of angle 55 to the hat section also secures a portion of webmember 33 to the hat section. In addition to reducing the stresses inthe hat sections of the top chord, this arrangement also simplifies theconstruction and assembly of the building structure.

Disposed in a row along each side of the building structure are verticalstub columns 65. Columns 65 are in line with each other and with maincolumns 1, and are disposed in alternate relationship with the maincolumns. Each stub column 65 comprises a vertical web 67, a verticalinner flange 69 and a vertical outer flange 71. Secured to outer flanges7 and 71 of columns 1 and 65 is a plurality of vertically spacedhorizontal girts 73. Girts 73 are secured at their ends to outer flanges7 of main columns 1 and at their mid-points to outer flanges 71 of stubcolumns 65, by the usual bolts and angles or the like. In a lesspreferred embodiment, the ends of the girts may be positioned betweenthe inner and outer flanges of the columns so as to position the girtsin effect in the plane of the columns. Girts 73 in the illustratedembodiment are comprised of Z-shaped purlins having horizontal webs.Secured to the inner vertical flanges of girts 73 are verticallydisposed sections of inner sidewall sheeting 75 which may be ofconventional corrugated sheet metal construction. The vertical sideedges of sheeting sections 75 overlap the inner sides of outer flanges 7and 71 of main columns 1 and stub columns 65, respectively, so thatthese outer flanges in effect close the gaps between the sheeting andthe purlins and provide a fairly tight joint at the vertical side edgesof the sheeting sections. When the building structure is intended foruse in connection with materials which will contact and bear against theinner sidewall sheeting, such as grain and the like, it is desirable tovary the vertical spacing of the girts 73. Thus, as indicated in FIGURE3, the spacing between the girts increases from a minimum of about onefoot at the bottom of the building structure to a maximum of about twofeet adjacent the top of the building structure. In FIGURE 1, a metallicbuilding according to the present invention is shown partly filled withgrain stored in bulk. It will be recognized that the grain exertslateral outward pressure according to its depth, much in the manner of aliquid. Hence, the advantages of variable girt spacing will be apparent.

The primary purpose of stub columns 65 and the associated structure isto resist outward forces applied to the inner sidewall sheeting bymaterials contained within the building structure, such as stored grainor the like. To this end, stub columns 65 do not extend full height ofthe building structure and do not bear any portion of the weight of theroof. Instead, they terminate upwardly at about the level of the bottomchords of the roof trusses and carry at their upper ends tension memberscomprising tie rods 77 secured to the lower surfaces of bottom chords 23of roof trusses 9 by means of bracket plates 79 thereon. Tie rods 77 aresecured to the upper ends of webs 67 of stub columns 65 by means ofobtuse angle brackets 81, the upper ends of inner flanges 69 of columns65 being cut down to avoid interference with the tie rod brackets. Theprovision of plate brackets of this type for the tie rods assures thatthe full cross-section of the tie rods can be used as tension members.

The functions and advantages of the structure just described, and ofthis structure in cooperation with the structure previouslyde'scribed,will now be apparent. The outward thrust of material such as storedgrain within the building structure is transmitted through the innersidewall sheeting 75 to girts 73, and thence to columns 1 and 65, butprincipally to columns 65 as the girts are secured intermediate theirlength to columns 65 but only at their ends to columns 1. The tension intie rods 77 tends to place the portions of bottom chords 23 betweenbracket plates 79 and main columns 1 in compression, and this, in turn,tends to place the extreme end web members 33 in compression. However,as previously noted, the weight of the roof tends to place the bottomchords and the end web members in tension. Thus, the tension 6 in tierods 77 tends to balance the tension imparted to the end web members 33by the weight of the roof and particularly the tension at theconnections between the bottom chords of the roof trusses and the maincolumns. As the tie rods are substantially in the plane of the bottomchords, the stress in the bottom chords adjacent their connections withthe main columns is very greatly reduced; and the weight borne by themain columns which is imparted thereto through the end web members 33 issubstantially reduced. The size and weight of the main columns and rooftrusses can be correspondingly reduced. In effect, the weight of theroof and the outward pressure or the material confined within thebuilding structure tend to balance each other, so that a large por tionof the weight of the roof is borne not by the main columns but by thestored material itself. Hence, the remarkable result is obtained that abuilding structure which is subjected to two different types of loadingcan be made lighter and weaker by the present invention than if it weresubjected merely to one type of loading.

Another important feature of the present invention is the cave structurewhich ties together the upper ends of the inner and outer sidewallsheeting, the lower outer ends of the roof sheets and the outer ends 45of the column cap plates 41. An eave strut 83 is provided which extendsalong each side of the building structure at the top thereof. Each cavestrut 83 comprises a C-shape having a fiat web 85 and a pair of flatupper and lower flanges 87 and and 89 extending in the same direction atright angles to web 85 and parallel to each other. Upper flange 87terminates in an upper lip 91 disposed thereto at an angle equal to aright angle plus the angle of roof slope and lower flange 89 terminatesin a lower lip 93 disposed thereto at an angle equal to a right angleminus the angle of roof slope, so that lips 91 and 93 are parallel toeach other and vertical. In a less preferred embodiment, lips 91 and 93may be coplanar and perpendicular to web 85'.

As best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, eave strut 83 is supported flat onou'ter'ends 45 of column cap plates 41 and is bolted thereto, so thatflanges 87 and 89 of the cave strut are inclined at the roof pitch andweb 85 is perpendicular to the roof pitch. Lower flange 89 is bolted toouter ends 45. As upper flange 87 is disposed at the roof pitch, thelower outer ends of roofing sheets 61 may be secured substantially flatthereagainst by means of bolts 95 passing through the roofing sheets andthe upper flange of the cave strut. If desired, a thin closure strip 97of rubber or other elastic deformable material may provide a sealbetween the roofing sheets and the cave struts. The upper ends of innersidewall sheeting extend upwardly beyond the upper ends of columns 1 andare field-cut to accommodate column cap plates 41 and are disposedclosely adjacent the inner sides of the cave struts. These upper ends ofthe inner sidewall sheeting are secured to the cave struts by means ofbolts 99 which pass through the upper ends of sheeting 75 and the lowerportions of web of the cave strut.

There is thus provided an eave strut having confronting lips 91 and 93,the upper of which is disposed slightly outwardly beyond the lower. Thisarrangement of lips 91 and 93 makes it possible to assemble outersidewall sheeting 101 in a highly convenient manner. Specifically, theupper ends of sheeting 101 are introduced into the gap between lips 91and 93 interiorly of eave strut 83 until they contact upper flange 87 ofthe cave strut. As introduced, sheeting 10-1 will be disposed at anangle to the vertical such that it extends downwardly and outwardlytoward its lower end. The sheeting 101 when seated within the cave strutis then swung down to the vertical, whereupon the sheeting at itsuppermost end contacts upper lip 91 on the inner side thereof and lowerlip 93 on the outer side thereof. In the preferred embodiment, flanges87 and 89 of eave strut 83 are of a width such that the planes of lips91 and 93 are spaced apart a distance equal to the thickness of thecontour of sheeting 101. The

:1 upper ends of the outer sidewall sheeting are thus held tightlywithin the cave strut and are secured in such a position that the outersidewall sheeting can be conveniently attached to girts 73 by bolting orthe like.

The upper ends of the outer sidewall sheeting are firmly held in placein the eave strut by means of bolts Hi3 which pass through the sheetingand through lower lip 93 of eave strut 83. Thus, a means of securementof the outer sidewall sheeting to the building structure is providedwhich is so simple that a single workman can install the outer sidewallsheeting. At the same time, the securement of the outer sidewallsheeting is so firm that it is locked in place from top to bottom.Preferably, the side Wall sheeting is in the form of sheets of a lengthto extend full height of the sidewall of the building and of a widththat it may be conveniently handled by a single workman.

A pair of opposite end walls, which may if desired be oi conventionalconstruction, completes the metallic building structure of the presentinvention.

From a consideration of the foregoing disclosure, it will be obviousthat all of the initially recited obiects of the present invention havebeen achieved.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated inconnection with preferred embodiments, it is to be understood thatmodifications and variations may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, as those skilled in this art will readilyunderstand. Such modifications and variations are considered to bewithin the purview and scope of the present invention as defined by theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Metallic building structure comprising two pairs of opposed maincolumns, a main column of each pair being disposed at each side of thebuilding structure, a pair of roof trusses one extending between andsupported by each pair of main columns, a stub column between the maincolumns at each side of the building structure, a plurality ofvertically spaced girts secured to each stub column, vertical side wallsheeting disposed on the inner sides of the girts, and tension memberssecured to and extending between each stub column and each truss of thepair of roof trusses, the tension members being secured to the stubcolumns at locations above the bottoms of the stub columns.

2. Metallic building structure as claimed in claim 1, the tensionmembers being horizontally disposed.

3. Metallic buiiding structure as claimed in claim 2, the roof trusseshaving top chords and horizontal bottom chords, the tension membersbeing secured to the bottom chords.

4. Metallic building structure comprising two pairs of opposed columns,a column of each pair being disposed at each side of the buildingstructure, a pair of roof trusse one extending between and supported byeach pair of columns, each roof truss having a top chord, the ends ofthe top chords being disposed at acute angles to the horizontal, a roofsupported by and parallel to the top chords, an eave strut perpendicularto the columns and to the ends of the top chords and extendinglengthwise along a side of the building structure, the cave strutcomprising a channel member having a web and an upper flange and a lowerflange, the upper flange being parallel and secured to the underside ofthe roof, the flanges having lips extending toward each other, and avertical section of side wall sheeting the upper end of which extendsbetween the flange lips.

5. Metallic building structure comprising a plurality of columnsdisposed at each side of the building structure, a plurality of roofbeams supported by the columns with the ends of the roof beams disposedat acute angles to the horizontal, a roof supported by and parallel tothe roof beams, an eave strut perpendicular to the columns and to theends of the roof beams and extending lengthwise along a side of thebuilding structure, the cave strut ii? comprising a channel memberhaving a web and an upper flange and a lower flange, the upper flangebeing parallel and secured to the underside of the roof, the flangeshav-- ing lips extending toward each other, and a vertical section ofside wall sheeting the upper end of which extends between the flangelips.

6. Metallic building structure as claimed in claim 5, and meansextending through and fastening together the section of side wallsheeting and the lip of the lower flange of the eave strut.

7. Metallic building structure comprising a plurality of columnsdisposed at each side of the building structure, a plurality of roofbeams supported by the columns with the ends of the roof beams disposedat acute angles to the horizontal, a roof supported by and parallel tothe roof beams, a plurality of vertically spaced girts secured to thecolumns, inner side wall sheeting disposed on the inner side of thegirts, outer side wall sheeting disposed on the outer side of the girts,and an eave strut perpendicular to the columns and to the ends of theroof beams and disposed above the girts, the eave strut comprising achannel member having a web and an upper flange and a lower flange, theupper flange being parallel to and closely underlying the roof, theflanges having lips extending toward each other, the upper end of theouter side wall sheeting extending between the flange lips, and the cavestrut being disposed on the outer side of the upper end of the innerside wall sheeting.

8. Metallic building structure as claimed in claim 7, and meansextending through and fastening together the upper end of the inner sidewall sheeting and the web of the eave strut.

9. Metallic building structure comprising a pair of opposed columnsdisposed one on each side of the building structure, a roof trussextending between and supported by the, columns, the roof truss having atop chord and a bottom chord interconnected by a plurality of web upperouter end, the cap plate resting flat on top of and being secured to theupper end of the associated column, so that tensile forces in the bottomchord are transmitted through the bottom chord to the end web members,through the end web members to the cap plates, and through the capplates to the tops of the columns and are applied by the cap plates tothe tops of the columns as compressive forces applied downward endwiseof the columns.

10. Metallic building structure as claimed in claim 9,

the bottom chord being straight and horizontal.

11. Metallic building structure as claimed in claim 10, the top chordbeing peaked and comprising a pair of straight members disposed at acuteangles to the bottom chord and at an obtuse angle to each other.

12. Metallic building structure as claimed in claim 11, and a peakedroof supported by the peaked top chord.

13. Metallic building structure comprising two pairs of opposed columns,a column of each pair being disposed at each side of the buildingstructure, a pair of roof trusses one extending between and supported byeach pair of columns, each roof truss having a top chord and a bottomchord and a plurality of web members extending between andinterconnecting the top and bottom chords, the top chord of one rooftruss having a vertical face confronting a vertical face of the topchord of the other roof truss, a plurality of brackets secured to eachof said confronting faces in opposed pairs, a plurality of parallel roofpurlins extending between said confronting faces and secured each at itsends to the brackets of an opposed pair of brackets, a fastening memberpassing 9 through the bracket and said vertical face and the upper endof the web member at each end of the purlins, and a roof supportedjointly by upper surfaces of the purlins thereby to transmit roof weightfrom the purlins to the web members to the bottom chords.

14. Metallic building structure as claimed in claim 13, the brackets andupper ends of the web members through which the fastening members passbeing disposed on opposite sides of the associated said vertical faces.

15. Metallic building structure comprising two pairs of opposed columns,a column of each pair being disposed at each side of the buildingstructure, a pair of roof trusses one extending between and supported byeach pair of columns, each roof truss having'a top chord and a bottomchord and a plurality of web members extending between andinterconnecting the top and bottom chords, each top chord comprising apair of spaced parallel vertical plates secured together in unitaryassembly, each web member comprising a channel member having parallelflanges, the upper ends of said web members being disposed between thevertical plates of each top chord with the flanges of the web memberscontiguous and parallel to the associated said vertical plates, avertical plate of one top chord having a vertical face confronting avertical face of a vertical plate of the other top chord, a plurality ofbrackets secured to each of said confronting faces in opposed pairs, aplurality of parallel roof purlins extending between said confrontingvertical faces and secured each at its ends to the brackets of anopposed pair of brackets, a fastening member passing through the bracketand said one vertical plate and the adjacent flange of a said web memberat each end of the purlins, and a roof supported jointly by uppersurfaces of the purlins thereby to transmit roof weight from the purlinsto the web members to the bottom chords.

l6. Metallic building structure comprising two pairs of opposed columns,a column of each pair being disposed at each side of the buildingstructure, a pair of roof trusses one extending between and supported byeach pair of columns, each roof truss having a top chord and a bottomchord, the top chord of one roof truss having a vertical faceconfronting a vertical face of the top chord of the other roof truss, aplurality of brackets secured to each of said confronting vertical facesin opposed pairs, a plurality of parallel roof purlins extending betweensaid confronting vertical faces, the purlins having webs and topflanges, the purlin webs being secured at their ends to the brackets ofopposed pairs of brackets, the purlin flanges having upper surfacesspaced above the upper edges of said confronting vertical faces, and aroof supported jointly by the upper surfaces of the purlin flangesthereby to transmit roof weight from the purlins to the Web members tothe bottom chords.

17. Metallic building structure as claimed in claim 16, the top chordsof theroof trusses having bottom flanges extending toward each other,the brackets being spaced above said bottom flanges, and the purlinshaving bottom flanges disposedbetween the brackets and the bottomflanges of the top chords of the roof trusses.

18. Metallic building structure comprising a pair of spaced parallelrafter beams, one beam having a vertical face confronting the verticalface of the other beam, a plurality of brackets secured to each of saidconfronting vertical faces in opposed pairs, a plurality of purlinsextending between said confronting vertical faces, the purlins havingwebs and top flanges, the purlin webs being secured at their ends to thebrackets of opposed pairs of brackets, the purlin flanges having uppersurfaces spaced above the upper edges of said confronting verticalfaces, and a roof supported jointly by the upper surfaces of the purlinflanges.

l9. Metallic building structure as claimed in claim 18, the roof beamshaving bottom flanges extending toward each other, the brackets beingspaced above said bottom flanges, and the purlins having bottom flangesdisposed between the brackets and the bottom flanges of the roof beams.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,532,695 Harting et al Apr. 7, 1925 1,769,733 Bemis July 1, 19301,793,188 Noerenberg Feb. 17, 1931 2,541,784 Shannon Feb. 13, 19512,549,816 Johnson Apr. 24, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 733,332 Great BritainJuly 13, 1955 167,831 Australia June 12, 1956

